Trader Joe's has gone seriously pumpkin. I mean, I THOUGHT it had already hit that--the pumpkin poptarts, pumpkin yogurt, and pumpkin cream cheese were already out. But now there are also pumpkin filled breakfast bars, and granola, and chai, and pumpkin waffles, pumpkin croissants, mini pumpkin pies, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin ravioli...and on and on and on. My god. I admit, I bought some pumpkin waffles. I was overwhelmed and felt like I had to eat something pumpkin-y! I have not tried them yet.

I tried the TJ pumpkin macaroons. And they were good. But I have to admit that for me the one true macaroon is the kosher-for-Passover coconut macaroon. Not saying that one is more "authentic". Just that for me a macaroon must have coconut.

Well, but those are two entirely different sorts of thing, the coconut passover-type macaroons, and the french two-meringues-with-filling-between macaroons! I don't think you can compare them any more than like "I prefer macaroons to chocolate chip cookies" or something.

That said, I have tried the french-style macaroons at various places, and have so far failed to see what the fuss is about.

Ah, so they are not considered varieties of the same thing. Just happen to have the same name, like the way the wind (noun - the one that swirls leaves) is spelled the same as wind (the verb,as in I once owned a watch I had to wind before all watches were run by batteries.)

I checked Wikipedia. Apparently started out as the same thing and evolved in different directions. Glad I did not claim "authenticity". Coconut macaroons came later! [link]

I do not get the pumpkin craze.

I just went to the movies and then out for drinks with my cousin, and noticed when I got home that my shirt was on inside out. Good times.

My mother always used to say that wearing clothes inside out (accidentally) was good luck.

You are a trendsetter! I expect Lady Gaga to wear her shirt inside out tomorrow.

I'm not so sure... doing that with some of her shirts could result in an ER visit.

Juliebird- do you happen to have a wheeled desk chair around? I found that incredibly helpful when my foot was out of commission. Anything with wheels and a flat surface=magically helpful. Even a regular chair on plastic sliders can make a passable walker (with convenient flat surface for moving things). I"m highly confused as to why anyone would recommend avoiding NSAIDS for a sprain unless it's a med-interaction thing....anti-inflamatory action is exactly what you want with an early sprain to help relieve the swelling and the pain resulting from the swelling.

I put halloween-themed collars on both my black kitties. One says "BOO!" in glow in the dark green, and the other says "Trick or Treat" on purple. I loves them. The only downside is that they are technically for small dogs and while the length is perfect, they are about twice as wide as kitty collars. Nico is already so ridiculously floofy and this wider collar gives him insane flooftastic sideburns. I can't stop petting him. He hates it. But purrs.

Great tip on the chair thing, erin!

I came downstairs this morning to find my plastic 50s-style midsize tray (one of a set of three, with vaguely Tiki design) shattered on the floor. There's only one cat that gets up on that counter.

Oh well, I got the set at a church bazaar, so it's not like I'm out a whole lot of money, and the plastic is definitely old and brittle. It was just the right size to put a small plate and glass on, and carry out to the garden or living room.

It must have been the night, Theo. I woke up to find an ashtray on the floor -- not shattered, but it was half-full. Thank goodness I have hardwood and was planning to mop today anyway.

And today, I took the first sweater out of the closet: dad's old chunky cardigan, and I switched to hot coffee. It's in the 40's right now.